Adjustable holder for filing cards and the like



March 14, 1%?

D. OULANGER ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR FILING CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

DAN/5L BOULANGER INVENTOR BY CKML LX 55 ATTORNEY March 14, 1967 D. BOULANGER ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR FILING CARDS AND THE'LIKE Filed 001.. 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R E 6 R 2 N 5 A T UN N WW 3? N H L l w m m m Y D B m i! N. a .1 1 A H 1:. 2 2 Z 7 o a I 4 lb Mlv/\ 2 3 2 7 IIIIZVJIZIIIL. ID EZZII I I I EE fi 2 x I .llllllllilfl-fl fi I 2 ATTORNEY March 14, 1967 D. BOULANGER 3,3@9,153

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR FILING CARDS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 DAN/1. BOULANGEP INVENTOR BY 4' W United States Patent 3,309,158 ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FQR FILING CARDS AND THE LIKE Daniel Boulanger, Croix, Nerd, France, assignor to Societe Franc-Euro, a corporation of France Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,135 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 13, 1962, 890,881, Patent 1,324,990; ept. 3, 1962, 968,459, Patent 1,340,262

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-205) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 264,168 filed Mar. 11, 1963.

My present invention relates to a holder for filing cards and similar flat articles adapted to be stacked in a suitable receptacle so as to be readily and individually accessible to a user.

Conventional card holders of this type are generally of fixed dimensions so as to accommodate only a single size of cards. Moreover, these holders often do not conveniently fit into available drawers or cabinets so that their storage may pose problems.

The general object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an improved holder for filing cards and the like which can be easily adjusted to a variety of card sizes while retaining the same external dimensions so as to fit into a receptacle therefor.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a holder of this description which accommodates, or can be made to accommodate, a plurality of stacks of filing cards or the like, of different or identical dimensions, disposed side by side in a common enclosure of invariable size.

In accordance with an important feature of this invention, I provide a frame which removably fits into an associated housing of given size, this frame including two parallel, flat, upstanding members defining two opposite .least two transverse lower bars supported thereon at two levels with relative adjustability, the upper bars being spaced apart by a greater distance than the lower bars so that the latter forms a base for a stack of cards laterally confined by the upper bars and projecting above the structure. In order to afford the desired adjustability to the bars, the two side members of the frame may be longitudinally slotted or otherwise perforated to receive the extremities of the bars or fasteners engaging these extremities. The bars, especially the lower ones, may also be formed with incisions engageable by marginal extensions of dividers removably inserted within the card space defined by the two pairs of bars.

It will usually be sufiicient to limit the adjustability of the upper bars to a single level, preferably close to the upper edge of the side members of the frame, with maintenance of both horizontal and vertical adjustability for the lower bars whereby cards of different height may be supported by respective sets of bars 30 as to project to the same extent above the structure. To this end I prefer to provide each of the two parallel side members with a horizontal track along which the upper bars may be shifted, in combination with positioning means for immobilizing these bars at a selected location along the track. In a specific instance, the track is defined by one or more longitudinal slots traversed by bolts or other fasteners in engagement with two or more movable uprights which serve as positioners for both the upper and the lower bars carried thereon, these uprights in turn being provided with vertically spaced formations (e.g. notches) selectively engageable by the lower bars whereby the level of the latter may be varied. As an added support for 13%158 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 the cards to be stacked, as well as for esthetic reasons, a flexible element such as a sheet of fabric may be optionally drawn across the upper surfaces of the lower bars so as to pass along three sides of a stack of cards carried thereby. This flexible element may, in fact, embrace a plurality of stacks disposed side by side in a common frame structure.

The invention will be described in greater detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card holder (parts broken away) representing embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a major part of the frame structure of the holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the'holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views, drawn to a larger scale, of different types of bars adapted to be used in the holder of FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the holder together with a receptacle therefor and with a stack of cards in place but without the flexible element illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

In FIGS. 1-3 I have illustrated an adjustable holder for filing cards and the like, designed to fit into an outer receptacle or housing shown partly broken away in FIG. 1. This holder comprises a prismatic frame structure of rectangular outline, opposite sides of the prism being defined by a pair of upstanding members 21, 22 forming part of this structure. Frame members 1, 2 are maintained in their parallel position by suitable stays such as corner braces 31. In addition, the members 21, 22 are bridged by several upper crossbars '5, having an inverted-U profile, and lower cross-bars 7. FIGS. 1 and 3 show two upper bars 5 and two lower bars 7 together defining a single compartment for a horizontal stack of cards; in FIG. 6, four upper bars 5 are present to define, together with a like number of lower cross-bars 7, two compartments accommodating stacks of smaller cards 30 and larger cards 30' along with dividers 6 and 6', respectively. The size of each compartment may be varied by a displacement of the upper bars 5 and by a corresponding shifting of the lower bars 7 in a manner more fully described hereinafter. It will be apparent that, through suitable adjustment of the bars 5 and 7, the size of the compartments may be varied to fit dividers and cards of different dimensions.

Moreover, as will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 6, it is possible not only to vary the crosssectional area of either compartment but also to have both compartments merge into a single space through removal of one pair of bars 5 and withdrawal of two bars 7 or positioning of all the bars 7 on the same level; conversely, I may increase the number of compartments by the introduction of additional pairs of bars 5 and 7.

The frame structure 21, 22 is sheathed by a removable shell or housing 8 which, after the positioning of the bars 5 and "i at selected locations, is lowered upon the frame so that its inturned lips 9 overlie the extremities of the upper bars 5.

Though a set of two lower bars 7 and two upper bars 5 sufiices completely to define a compartment and to support a stack of cards therein, I have shown in FIGS. l3 a web ill of flexible sheet material, e.g., a fabric, extending across the upper surfaces of bars 5 and the lower surfaces of bars 7 along the outlines of the compartment formed sheets. This web 16 is provided mainly for esthetic reasons in that it conceals the bars 5 from view. The web also provides some additional guidance for the cards in their removal from the stack or their lowering onto the bars 7. Advantageously, as shown, web 10 is held under tension by springs 11 anchored to the frame members 21, 22 so as to remain taut in different positions of the bars.

The braces 31 are generally similar to the upper bars 5 but are fixedly positioned at the corners of the structure where their flanges are received with a forced fit in notches 21a, 22a of members 21, 22;, respectively. Members 21 and 22 include two pairs of horizontal rails 23a, b and 24a, 24b defining respective longitudinal slots 23, 24 which are traversed by mounting bolts 25a and 25b at the upper and lower ends of uprights 26. These uprights are formed at their tops with notches 26a accommodating, again with forced fit, the ends of bars 5 so that each such bar is rigidly joined to a pair of these uprights on opposite sides of the structure. Uprights 26 are further formed with lateral notches 26b engageable by lugs 7d (FIG. 4) at the ends of respective lower bars 7 which are formed with transverse incisions '70 to be transversed by corner lugs 60, 6:! of dividers 6, 6' whose upper exteriors 6b, 6b rest on bars 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the bars 7 could also be replaced by bars 7' whose lugs 7d have slightly bent extremities 7e whereby they may be more securely anchored to the notches 26b of uprights 26.

The location of the notches 26a near the outer edge of each upright 26, i.e., near its edge remote from the companion upright forming therewith a card compartment, insures in combination with the greater width of bars 7 (as compared with bars 5) that the mutual separation of the lower bars 7 is less than that of the upper bars 5 The mounting of a bar 5 and a bar 7 on a common pair of uprights 26 maintains a constant horizontal offset between each upper bar 5 and an associated lower bar 7 even though permitting a change in their vertical separation as well as a horizontal displacement of both across the frame. Whereas, in the illustrated embodiment, the level of the upper bars 5 is fixed by the height of the uprights 26, the level of the lower bars 7 (or '7) can be Varied at will. 7 V

If desired, one pair of uprights 26 may be fixedly mounted adjacent side member 21 or 22, the upper bar 5 associated with this pair then taking the place of one of the new at, 4

Modifications of the arrangements described and illustrated, are, of course, possible (e.g., with regard to the specific fastening means for the transverse bars) without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention except as otherwise limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

L In an assembly for the storage of flat stackable arti- 'cles, the combination of a prismatic housing with a prismatic frame structure removably fitting into said housing, said frame structure comprising:

a pair of flat, parallel, upstanding members defining op- :posite sides of the prism;

at least two upper bars extending across said members;

at least two lower bars extending across said members underneath said upper bars;

means on said members forming a horizontal track along which at least one of said upper bars is displaceable;

positioning means for releasably securing said displaceable upper bar at a selected location along said track; and fastening means for releasably securing said lower bars to said members at a selected level and at selected locations with a mutual separation less than that of said upper bars whereby a stack of articles to be accommodated by said holder can be supported on said lower bars and laterally confined by said upper bars while projecting above the latter; said track including at least one slot extending longitudinally across a major part of each of said members, said positioning means comprising at least one upright adjacent each of said members and mounting means traversing said slot for immobilizing said upright at a selected location, said fastening means including coasting formations on said upright and 4 one of said lower bars for securing the latter to said upright at a selected level.

2. An adjustable holder for a stack of fiat articles, comprising:

a prismatic frame structure with a pair of flat, parallel, upstanding members defining opposite sides of the prism;

at least two upper bars extending across said member;

at least two lower bars extending across said members underneath said upper bars;

means on said members forming a horizontal track along which at least one of said upper bars is displaccable;

positioning means for releasably securing said displaceabie upperbar at a selected loction along said track;

fastening means for releasably securing said lower bars to said members at a selected level and at selected locations with a mutual separation less than that of said upper bars whereby a stack of articles to be accommodated by said holder can be supported on said lower bars and laterally confined by said upper bars while projecting above the latter; and a flexible web passing across the upper surfaces of said upper bars and the lower surfaces of said lower bars along three sides of a compartment for said articles defined by said upper and lower bars.

3. A holder as defined in claim 2, further comprising a removable shell closely fitting around said frame structure.

4. A holder as defined in claim 3 wherein a shell has inturned lips overlying the ends of said upper bars.

5. An adjustable holder for a stack of flat articles, comprising:

a prismatic frame structure with a pair of flat, parallel, upstanding members defining opposite sides of the prism;

at least two upper bars extending across said members;

at least two lower bars extending across said members underneath said upper bars;

means on said members forming a horizontal track along which at least one of said upper bars is displaceable;

positioning means for releasably securing said displaceable upper bars at a selected location along said track;

and fastening means for releasably securing said lower bars to said members at a selected level and at selected locations with a mutual separation less than that of said upper bars whereby a stack of articles to be accommodated by said holder can be supported on said lower bars and laterally confined by said upper bars while projecting above the latter;

said track including at least one slot extending longitudinally across a major part of each of said members, said positioning means comprising at least one upright adjacent each of said members and mounting means traversing said slot for immobilizing said up right at a selected location, said fastening means including coacting formations on said upright and one of said lower bars for securing the latter to said upright at a selected level.

6. A holder as defined in claim 5 wherein said formations include vertically spaced notches on said upright and a mating projection on said one of said lower bars.

7. A holder as defined in claim 5 wherein said lower bars have upper surfaces formed with incisions for accommodating marginal projections of a divider for said stack supported by said lower bars.

8. A holder as defined in claim 2 wherein said web is provided with resilient means anchoring same under tension to said frame structure.

d. An adjustable holder for a stack of fiat articles, comprising:

a prismatic frame structure with a pair of flat, parallel, upstanding members defining opposite sides of the prism;

at least one pair of uprights respectively disposed adjacent said members within said structure and displaceable horizontally along said members;

mounting means for immobilizing said uprights in a selected confronting position along said members;

at least two upper bars extending across said members, one of said bars being secured to said uprights for displacement therewith;

at least two lower bars extending across said members underneath said upper bars and with a mutual separation less than that of said upper bars, one of said lower bars being supported by said uprights for displacement therewith;

and fastening means provided in part on said uprights for selectively varying the level of said lower bars relatively to that of said upper bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,625 10/1906 Ryan 312-6 1,024,253 4/1912 Ford 242-553 1,345,401 7/1920 Ratner 220-20 1,737,971 12/1929 Law 211-182 2,107,828 2/1933 Krantz 312-6 2,610,759 9/1952 Slade 220-22 2,771,334 11/1956 Wahiborn 312-1402 3,012,835 12/1961 Anderson 312-257 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,276,212 10/1961 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CI-IANCELLOR E, HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. IN AN ASSEMBLY FOR THE STORAGE OF FLAT STACKABLE ARTICLES, THE COMBINATION OF A PRISMATIC HOUSING WITH A PRISMATIC FRAME STRUCTURE REMOVABLY FITTING INTO SAID HOUSING, SAID FRAME STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF FLAT, PARALLEL, UPSTANDING MEMBERS DEFINING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PRISM; AT LEAST TWO UPPER BARS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID MEMBERS; AT LEAST TWO LOWER BARS EXTENDING ACROSS SAID MEMBERS UNDERNEATH SAID UPPER BARS; MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS FORMING A HORIZONTAL TRACK ALONG WHICH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID UPPER BARS IS DISPLACEABLE; POSITIONING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID DISPLACEABLE UPPER BAR AT A SELECTED LOCATION ALONG SAID TRACK; AND FASTENING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID LOWER BARS TO SAID MEMBERS AT A SELECTED LEVEL AND AT SELECTED LOCATIONS WITH A MUTUAL SEPARATION LESS THAN THAT OF SAID UPPER BARS WHEREBY A STACK OF ARTICLES TO BE ACCOMMODATED BY SAID HOLDER CAN BE SUPPORTED ON SAID LOWER BARS AND LATERALLY CONFINED BY SAID UPPER BARS WHILE PROJECTING ABOVE THE LATTER; SAID TRACK INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SLOT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ACROSS A MAJOR PART OF EACH OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE UPRIGHT ADJACENT EACH OF SAID MEMBERS AND MOUNTING MEANS TRAVERSING SAID SLOT FOR IMMOBILIZING SAID UPRIGHT AT A SELECTED LOCATION, SAID FASTENING MEANS INCLUDING COACTING FORMATIONS ON SAID UPRIGHT AND ONE OF SAID LOWER BARS FOR SECURING THE LATTER TO SAID UPRIGHT AT A SELECTED LEVEL. 